In the spring of 2005 Melody retired not having any idea what was next in her life (ironically, Melody learned two years later in 2007 that it was the same year and time that Lily her horse was born .God always has a plan before we do). After two years of retirement, Melody was restless, depressed and bored and knew something was missing when she realized what it was: Horses!!!! Melody went back to her first love of horses in January of 2007 when she purchased the young palomino quarter horse filly “Lily”. After thirty four years of not having her own horse she had much to learn and fast. The last 32 months have been spent studying natural horsemanship and studying equine, horses and donkeys.

On May 10th, 2007 Melody’s 47th birthday she took a drive to Mass Ass Acres (MAA) in Sequim, WA to look at a couple of mini donkeys as companions to her horse Lily. You see “Melody’s husband and best friend, Scott” refused to let her have more than one horse at this time as he was terrified of horses and wanted nothing to do with them. As Melody drove into the MAA gorgeous farm she noticed at least 45 donkeys, including mini's, standards and lots of Mammoth donkeys. It was like a National Geographic movie. It did not appear real! She was spinning with stimulation having never seen or even heard of a Mammoth donkey before. "Rio" (mammoth donkey) was nine months old and he was playing tug o' war using a grain bowl with his best friend a miniature donkey named “Rocket Man”. Never before had Melody witnessed a horse play tug with a rubber bowl. Donkeys are clownish and she found this very fascinating. Well, Scott met Rio and the first thing Rio did was place his head in his chest for a good old rub and Rocket Man slowly backed his butt up to him for a butt rub. And so the Donkey Whisperer seed was planted.

Melody works at creating a relationship between the human and the equine, she has a unique way of reading the animal since they can not speak our language. Melody spent all of her childhood with animals; horses, pig, cows, chickens, ducks, geese, and cats; she spent many hours observing them and learning what they need and how they communicate with one another and with humans.

Melody's life has been a living lesson in safety and faith. Melody has had several spinal cord injuries, broke her neck and was completely paralyzed from the neck down in a serious car accident at just twenty one years of age. She had a spinal cord tumor removed from the middle of her back that was benign in her early forties and was headed back to paralysis in her feet. Thanks to prayers, outstanding surgeons and Gods mercy, Melody was healed. This history has made safety the most important factor for Melody when working with equine.

Melody knows that God has a plan from the day we are born; a purpose for our lives, we just need to believe just as big as a mustard seed to see what our purpose is. Melody’s purpose is to help the human and the equine live in harmony, safety and balance through love, leadership and respect for the equine.